Help bring the Gist back.
Restoring an 1890s building — and the workforce training happening inside it — takes a community.
Support Our Work
The Music Education Initiative is fundraising to make the restoration of Gist Music a reality. Whether you buy an instrument, buy clothing, or donate, we appreciate your generosity. All purchases go to restoring and preserving Gist Music!
Helena needs a year-round anchor.
Helena-West Helena draws Blues Trail visitors and roots-music tourists, but has no permanent, year-round destination for that tourism to land — most activity clusters around King Biscuit Blues Festival week each October. The Gist fills that gap: a reason to come, stay longer, and spend locally, every month of the year. Restoring it also gives downtown Helena a working anchor again, and gives local musicians a stage, a recording environment, and a place to teach the next generation.
Every gift funds the restoration.
Donations go directly toward restoring the historic 1890s Gist building at 307 Cherry Street — as a free public heritage gallery, an independent music store and vinyl room, a live performance venue, and a second-floor recording and artist residency space.
Helps restock the store's teaching instruments for lessons.
Supports one session of hands-on stage and sound crew training.
Contributes toward restoring the building's facade, gallery, and performance space.
Restoration, area by area.
Every dollar raised stays in the building. The scope covers five work areas:
Ground-floor interior restoration
Flooring, lighting systems, and acoustic treatments for the gallery, retail, and performance areas.
Exterior facade repair and signage
Historically appropriate repair and painting of the exterior, and restoration of signage that re-establishes The Gist's identity on Cherry Street.
Heritage gallery installation
Display fixtures, artifact mounts, and interpretive panels that bring the Delta music history experience to life.
Performance area furnishings and staging
Seating, a low platform stage, and presentation hardware to support live performances and community gatherings.
Accessibility and exterior lighting
Entry-level ADA improvements and exterior lighting upgrades that make the building safe, welcoming, and visible from Cherry Street.
Shop, share, or show up.
Buying from the Gist store, coming to a show, or simply following along and sharing our story all help keep the restoration moving.